Multipoint communication system and multipoint communication method

ABSTRACT

When a service receiving server  1  receives a request of a multi-point communication service from communication terminals  3 A to  3 C, a service ID corresponding to the multi-point communication service and passwords are respectively sent to the communication terminals  3 A to  3 C receiving the multi-point communication service and are sent to a communication service unit  2 . When the communication service unit  2  receives the service ID and the password from the communication terminals  3 A to  3 C, the communication service unit  2  collates whether or not the service ID and the password sent from the communication terminals  3 A to  3 C agree with those sent from the service receiving server  1 . In case of the agreement, the communication service unit  2  connects with the group of communication terminals  3 A to  3 C and provides the multi-point communication service for the communication terminals  3 A to  3 C according to the service ID.

This application is the national phase under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of PCTInternational Application No. PCT/JP01/11474 which has an Internationalfiling date of Dec. 26, 2001, which designated the United States ofAmerica.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a multi-point communication system anda multi-point communication method for providing various types ofmulti-point communication services.

BACKGROUND ART

A conventional communication reservation system is, for example,disclosed in Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No.H11-212995 (1999). In this communication reservation system, areservation of the provision of a communication service is performed foreach user's terminal, and a communication service is provided for theuser.

In the conventional communication reservation system, when detailedinformation of a terminal telephone is registered to reserve acommunication service, each user performs an operation of theregistration of detailed information of the terminal telephone by usinghis or her terminal.

As is described above, in the conventional communication reservationsystem, because it is required of each user to perform the registrationoperation, when a reservation of the multi-point simultaneouscommunication service, for example a reservation of a multi-pointtelevision conference, is performed by users, it is required of theusers to perform a large number of registration operations of telephonenumbers of user's terminal telephones. Therefore, a problem has arisenthat it is troublesome for the users to perform the reservation of themulti-point simultaneous communication service.

The present invention is provided to solve the above-described problem,and the object of the present invention is to provide a multi-pointcommunication system and a multi-point communication method in which areservation of a multi-point communication service is simplified toheighten the convenience of the reservation for users.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

A multi-point communication system according to the present inventionincludes a service receiving unit for receiving a request of a type ofmulti-point communication service from a single communication terminalor a plurality of communication terminals, issuing both a serviceidentifier corresponding to the type of multi-point communicationservice and a password corresponding to a communication terminal groupreceiving the type of multi-point communication service to the singlecommunication terminal or each of the communication terminals requestingthe type of multi-point communication service, and outputting theservice identifier and the password or the passwords to a communicationservice unit. The service receiving unit receives a request of a type ofmulti-point communication service from an arbitrary communicationterminal denoting the single communication terminal or selected fromamong the communication terminals, the communication service unitreceives the service identifier indicating the type of multi-pointcommunication service and the password of the arbitrary communicationterminal from the arbitrary communication terminal, the communicationservice unit confirms whether or not the password received from thearbitrary communication terminal agrees with the password of thearbitrary communication terminal output from the service receiving unit,and the communication service unit provides the type of multi-pointcommunication service indicated by the service identifier for thearbitrary communication in a case where the password received from thearbitrary communication terminal agrees with the password output fromthe service receiving unit.

Therefore, a reservation operation of the multi-point communicationservice can be simplified, and the convenience of the multi-pointcommunication service for users can be heightened.

A multi-point communication method according to the present inventionincludes the steps of receiving a request of a type of multi-pointcommunication service from a single communication terminal or aplurality of communication terminals, issuing a password or a serviceidentifier corresponding to a communication terminal group receiving thetype of multi-point communication service to the single communicationterminal or each of the communication terminals requesting the type ofmulti-point communication service, and providing the type of multi-pointcommunication service for an arbitrary communication terminal denotingthe single communication terminal or selected from among thecommunication terminals according to the password or the serviceidentifier sent from the arbitrary communication terminal in a casewhere the service identifier indicating a request of the type ofmulti-point communication service and the password are received from thearbitrary communication terminal.

Therefore, a reservation operation of the multi-point communicationservice can be simplified, and the convenience of the multi-pointcommunication service for users can be heightened.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the configuration of a multi-pointcommunication system and a signal flow in the multi-point communicationsystem according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the configuration of a multi-pointcommunication system and a signal flow in the multi-point communicationsystem according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the configuration of a multi-pointcommunication system and a signal flow in the multi-point communicationsystem according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the configuration of a multi-pointcommunication system and a signal flow in the multi-point communicationsystem according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the configuration of a multi-pointcommunication system and a signal flow in the multi-point communicationsystem according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing the configuration of a multi-pointcommunication system and a signal flow in the multi-point communicationsystem according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention willnow be described with reference to the accompanying drawings to explainthe present invention in more detail.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the configuration of a multi-pointcommunication system and a signal flow in the multi-point communicationsystem according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.1, 1 indicates a service receiving server (or a service receiving unit)such as a Web server for collecting and scheduling the reservation of aplurality of requests sent from a plurality of groups of communicationterminals including a group of communication terminals 3A to 3C,performing the resource management of a communication service unit 2,issuing a service identifier (hereinafter, called a service ID) and apassword to users of the communication terminals for each group andinstructing the start of a multi-point communication service (a type ofmulti-point communication service or a plurality of types of multi-pointcommunication services). 2 indicates the communication service unit forproviding a type of multi-point communication service or a plurality oftypes of multi-point communication services for each of the groups ofcommunication terminals including the group of communication terminals3A to 3C. 3 indicates each of the communication terminals A to C (inthis description, there are three communication terminals as one groupfor convenience of explanation. However, it is applicable that there befour communication terminals or more as one group). The communicationterminals 3A to 3C of one group receive the multi-point communicationservice.

Here, each of the communication terminals A to C is connected with theservice receiving server 1 through a network of wireless telephone linesor a network of wire telephone lines, each of the communicationterminals A to C is connected with the communication service unit 2through a network of wireless telephone lines or a network of wiretelephone lines, and the service receiving server 1 and thecommunication service unit 2 are connected with each other through anetwork of wireless telephone lines or a network of wire telephonelines. In the multi-point communication system shown in FIG. 1, theservice receiving server 1 and the communication service unit 2 areconnected with each other through the network, and the service receivingserver 1 and the communication service unit 2 are separately disposed inthe communication system. However, it is applicable that the servicereceiving server 1 and the communication service unit 2 be integrallyformed with each other. Also, in the first embodiment, the communicationterminals 3A to 3C receive one multi-point communication service as agroup of communication terminals. However, it is applicable that aplurality of groups of communication terminals exist in thecommunication system to receive one multi-point communication service ineach group of communication terminals 3A to 3C.

Next, an operation will be described below.

In the service receiving server 1, when a request of a multi-pointcommunication service sent from each of a plurality of groups ofcommunication terminals including a group of the communication terminals3A to 3C is received, the requests of the multi-point communicationservices sent from the groups of communication terminals are collected,a communication reservation scheduling for the requests of themulti-point communication services is performed according to thecollection result of the requests in consideration of a communicationresource state of the communication service unit 2. In this case, therequests of the multi-point communication services include a request forpromptly performing a multi-point communication service and areservation of a request for performing a multi-point communicationservice at a certain reservation time. Also, when the communicationresource state of the communication service unit 2 indicates that thecommunication service unit 2 affords to perform a multi-pointcommunication service or a plurality of multi-point communicationservices, it is preferred that the communication service unit 2 promptlyperforms all services of the multi-point communications requested by thegroups of communication terminals without performing the communicationreservation scheduling.

Thereafter, in the service receiving server 1, a service identifier (ID)indicating a multi-point communication service and a password peculiarto the group of the communication terminals 3A to 3C are sent to each ofthe communication terminals 3A to 3C of users from which a request ofthe multi-point communication service is sent to the service receivingserver 1. In this case, the service ID and the passwords are specifiedin advance by the users who operate their communication terminals tospecify the service ID and the passwords, or the service ID and thepasswords are specified in advance by the service receiving server 1.Also, in cases where the communication terminals 3A to 3C receive themulti-point communication service as one group, the service receivingserver 1 issues a plurality of passwords, which relate to the service IDand are the same as each other, to the communication terminals 3A to 3Crespectively, or the service receiving server 1 issues a plurality ofpasswords, which differ from each other and relate to each otheraccording to the service ID, to the communication terminals 3A to 3Crespectively.

Thereafter, when a certain reservation time of the provision of amulti-point communication service for the group of communicationterminals 3A to 3C comes, the service receiving server 1 sends theservice ID and the common password (or the passwords), which have beenalready sent to the communication terminals 3A to 3C, to thecommunication service unit 2 according to the communication reservationscheduling set in the service receiving server 1 in consideration of thecommunication resource state of the communication service unit 2, andthe service receiving server 1 instructs the start of the multi-pointcommunication service.

Also, in the group of the communication terminals 3A to 3C from which arequest of the multi-point communication service is sent, a connectionwith the communication service unit 2 through a wireless communicationline or a wire communication line is performed. Thereafter, both theservice ID and the password are, for example, sent from each of thecommunication terminals 3A to 3C to the communication service unit 2according to a DTMF speech recognition method or an in-channel methodsuch as CGI or JAVA.

Thereafter, when both the service ID and the password are sent from eachof the communication terminals 3A to 3C to the communication serviceunit 2, the communication service unit 2 receives both the service IDand the password from each of the communication terminals 3A to 3C andauthenticates both the service ID and the password sent from each of thecommunication terminals 3A to 3C. Thereafter, the communication serviceunit 2 obtains contents of the reservation of the request of themulti-point communication service, which is sent from the group of thecommunication terminals 3A to 3C to the service receiving server 1, fromthe service receiving server 1, and the communication service unit 2judges whether or not it comes the reservation time to provide themulti-point communication service for the group of the communicationterminals 3A to 3C. In cases where it comes the reservation time toprovide the multi-point communication service for the group of thecommunication terminals 3A to 3C, the communication service unit 2performs a connection with the group of the communication terminals 3Ato 3C specified by the service ID. The communication terminals 3A to 3Cspecified by the service ID denote a group of the communicationterminals receiving the multi-point communication service and have thepasswords which are the same as each other or differ from each otherwhile relating to each other. Also, in this case, the contents of themulti-point communication service provided for the communicationterminals 3A to 3C are determined according to the service ID sent fromthe communication terminals 3A to 3C or the service receiving server 1or are determined according to an instruction sent from the servicereceiving server 1. For example, a type of ordinary speech communicationservice, a type of data communication service, a type of audio and videocommunication service or the combination of those types of communicationservices are provided for the communication terminals 3A to 3C as a typeof multi-point communication service or various types of multi-pointcommunication services. Therefore, in cases where only one type ofmulti-point communication service is provided for the group of thecommunication terminals 3A to 3C, or in cases where various types ofmulti-point communication services provided for the group of thecommunication terminals 3A to 3C can be distinguished from each other inthe service receiving server 1 or the communication service unit 2, theservice ID is not required to identify the type of multi-pointcommunication service or each of the various types of multi-pointcommunication services provided for the group of the communicationterminals 3A to 3C, and the type of multi-point communication service orthe various types of multi-point communication services provided for thegroup of the communication terminals 3A to 3C can be sufficientlyrecognized in the communication service unit 2 by sending only thepassword from each communication terminal to the communication serviceunit 2. Also, regardless of whether a user can participate in a group ofmembers receiving various types of multi-point communication servicesfor pay or free, there is a case where the user can participate in thegroup of members without a password. In this case, no password isrequired of users, and the type of multi-point communication service oreach of the various types of multi-point communication services providedfor the group of the communication terminals 3A to 3C can besufficiently recognized in the communication service unit 2 by sendingonly the service ID from each communication terminal to thecommunication service unit 2.

Accordingly, the communication terminals 3A to 3C can receive a type ofmulti-point communication service or various types of multi-pointcommunication services to communicate with each other through thecommunication service unit 2.

As is described above, in the first embodiment, a service ID and acommon password (or a plurality of passwords relating to each other) aredetermined for each group of communication terminals receiving a type ofmulti-point communication service (or various types of multi-pointcommunication services), and the service ID and the password areassigned to each group of communication terminals receiving themulti-point communication service. Therefore, even though thecommunication terminals 3A to 3C of one group are connected with eachother through the communication service unit 2 to receive themulti-point communication service, it is not required of users toregister a plurality of telephone numbers of communication terminals ofthe users in advance, but it is only required of users to register theservice ID and the password of the group. Accordingly, the reservationof the multi-point communication service can be simplified, and theconvenience of the reservation for the users can be heightened.

Also, users of each group determine a service ID and a common password(or a plurality of passwords relating to each other) corresponding to atype of multi-point communication service (or various types ofmulti-point communication services), the service receiving server 1distributes the service ID and the password to each of the communicationterminals 3A to 3C of the group receiving the multi-point communicationservice, and names of the service ID and the password matching witheither the purpose of the multi-point communication service or thepersonality of each user can be specified. Therefore, the users caneasily keep in mind the service ID and the password in conformity withcontents of the multi-point communication service, and the convenienceof the multi-point communication service for the users can beheightened.

Embodiment 2

In the multi-point communication system of the first embodiment, theservice receiving server 1 issues a service ID and a common password (ora plurality of passwords relating to each other) for each group ofcommunication terminals receiving a type of multi-point communicationservice (or various types of multi-point communication services), thereservation of the multi-point communication service is simplified byusing the service ID and the password, and the convenience of thereservation for the users can be heightened. Next, a multi-pointcommunication system relating to the accounting of a charge for themulti-point communication service will be described according to asecond embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the configuration of a multi-pointcommunication system and a signal flow in the multi-point communicationsystem according to a second embodiment of the present invention. InFIG. 2, 1 indicates a service receiving server (or a service receivingunit) for collecting and scheduling the reservation of a plurality ofrequests sent from a plurality of groups of communication terminalsincluding a group of communication terminals 3A to 3C, performing theresource management of a communication service unit 2 and the accountingmanagement, and instructing the start of the multi-point communicationservice (a type of multi-point communication service or a plurality oftypes of multi-point communication services). 2 indicates thecommunication service unit for providing a type of multi-pointcommunication service or a plurality of types of multi-pointcommunication services for each of the groups of communication terminalsincluding the group of communication terminals 3A to 3C. 3 indicateseach of the communication terminals A to C of one group receiving a typeof multi-point communication service or various types of multi-pointcommunication services.

Next, an operation will be described below.

In the same manner as the operation in the first embodiment, when theservice receiving server 1 receives a request of a multi-pointcommunication service from each of a plurality of groups ofcommunication terminals including the group of the communicationterminals 3A to 3C, the requests of the multi-point communicationservices are collected in the service receiving server 1, and acommunication reservation scheduling for the requests of the multi-pointcommunication services is performed in the service receiving server 1according to the collection result of the requests in consideration of acommunication resource state of the communication service unit 2.

Also, when or before the service receiving server 1 issues a service IDand a password to each of the communication terminals 3A to 3C of onegroup from which the request of the multi-point communication service issent to the service receiving server 1, the service receiving server 1confirms whether or not the users of the communication terminals 3A to3C settle an account for the multi-point communication service. In otherwords, the service receiving server 1 confirms whether or not the userspay a charge for the multi-point communication service.

In cases where the service receiving server 1 can confirm the payment ofa charge for the multi-point communication service, the servicereceiving server 1 issues the service ID and the password to each of thecommunication terminals 3A to 3C for which the service receiving server1 can confirm the payment of a charge for the multi-point communicationservice. In contrast, in cases where the service receiving server 1cannot confirm the payment of a charge for the multi-point communicationservice, the service receiving server 1 does not issue either theservice ID or the password to each of the communication terminals 3A to3C for which the service receiving server 1 cannot confirm the paymentof a charge for the multi-point communication service.

Thereafter, in the same manner as the operation in the first embodiment,each of the communication terminals 3A to 3C receiving the service IDand the password performs a connection with the communication serviceunit 2 and receives a type of multi-point communication service orvarious types of multi-point communication services. In contrast, eachof the communication terminals 3A to 3C not paying a charge for themulti-point communication service cannot receive the multi-pointcommunication service.

Also, in another concept of the second embodiment, the service receivingserver 1 sends both a service ID and a password relating to a request ofthe multi-point communication service sent from users to each of thecommunication terminals 3A to 3C of the users in advance regardless ofwhether each of the users pay a charge for the multi-point communicationservice. Thereafter, in cases where the service receiving server 1 canconfirm that each of the users pays a charge for the multi-pointcommunication service, the service receiving server 1 instructs thestart of the multi-point communication service to the communicationservice unit 2. In another concept, the service receiving server 1informs the communication terminals 3A to 3C that the service ID and thepassword sent in advance are available, and the service receiving server1 permits that the multi-point communication service is provided for thecommunication terminals 3A to 3C of the users. In contrast, in caseswhere the service receiving server 1 cannot confirm that each of theusers pays a charge for the multi-point communication service, theservice receiving server 1 does not instruct the start of themulti-point communication service to the communication service unit 2.In another concept, the service receiving server 1 informs thecommunication terminals 3A to 3C that each of the service ID and thepassword sent in advance is unavailable.

As is described above, in the second embodiment, after the servicereceiving server 1 can confirm that the users of the communicationterminals 3A to 3C settle an account for the multi-point communicationservice requested by the users, the service receiving server 1 providesthe multi-point communication service for the users. Therefore, theservice receiving server 1 can reliably collect charges from the users,and the unrighteous use of the multi-point communication service can beprevented.

Also, the service receiving server 1 performs the provision or noprovision of the multi-point communication service by controlling thesending of the service ID and the password. Therefore, after the servicereceiving server 1 instructs the start of the multi-point communicationservice to the communication service unit 2, even though the payment ofthe users falls in shortage during the provision of the multi-pointcommunication service, the password is made unavailable during theprovision of the multi-point communication service. Accordingly, theaccounting for the multi-point communication service can be correctlymanaged.

Embodiment 3

In the multi-point communication system of the second embodiment, afterthe recognition of the payment of a charge for the multi-pointcommunication service, the multi-point communication service is providedfor the users. Therefore, charges for the multi-point communicationservice can be reliably collected from the users, and the unrighteoususe of the multi-point communication service can be prevented. Next, amulti-point communication system of a third embodiment will bedescribed. In a conventional multi-point communication system, in caseswhere there is no free space in the communication resource of thecommunication service unit 2 when a group of users desire to reserve theprovision of the multi-point communication service, even though a freespace is obtained in the communication resource of the communicationservice unit 2 after the reservation operation, the resource is notassigned to the group of users according to the reservation operationpreformed previously. However, in the multi-point communication systemof the third embodiment, the resource is automatically assigned to thegroup of users according to the reservation operation preformedpreviously.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the configuration of a multi-pointcommunication system and a signal flow in the multi-point communicationsystem according to the third embodiment of the present invention. InFIG. 3, 1 indicates a service receiving server (or a service receivingunit) for collecting and scheduling the reservation of a plurality ofrequests sent from a plurality of groups of communication terminalsincluding a group of communication terminals 3A to 3C, performing theresource management of a communication service unit 2 and thenotification to users of each group, and instructing the start of themulti-point communication service (a type of multi-point communicationservice or a plurality of types of multi-point communication services).2 indicates the communication service unit for providing a type ofmulti-point communication service or a plurality of types of multi-pointcommunication services for each of the groups of communication terminalsincluding the group of communication terminals 3A to 3C. 3 indicateseach of the communication terminals A to C of one group receiving a typeof multi-point communication service or various types of multi-pointcommunication services.

Next, an operation will be described below.

In the same manner as the operation in the first embodiment, when theservice receiving server 1 receives a request of the multi-pointcommunication service from each of a plurality of groups ofcommunication terminals including the group of the communicationterminals 3A to 3C, the requests of the multi-point communicationservices are collected in the service receiving server 1, and acommunication reservation scheduling for the requests of the multi-pointcommunication services is performed in the service receiving server 1according to the collection result of the requests in consideration of acommunication resource state of the communication service unit 2.

In this case, the service receiving server 1 of the third embodimentjudges whether or not a free space exists in the communication resourceof the communication service unit 2. In cases where no free space existsin the communication resource of the communication service unit 2, theservice receiving server 1 notifies the communication terminals 3A to 3Csending the request of the multi-point communication service that nofree space exists in the communication resource of the communicationservice unit 2, and the service receiving server 1 does not issue eithera service ID or a password to the communication terminals 3A to 3C.

Also, the service receiving server 1 judges whether or not a request ofwaiting for a reservation of a request is included in a plurality ofrequests of the multi-point communication services. In cases where arequest of waiting for a reservation of a request is included in aplurality of requests of the multi-point communication services, theservice receiving server 1 stores a plurality of telephone numbers and aplurality of mail addresses of the communication terminals 3A to 3C,which send the request of waiting for a reservation of a request, inaddition to the request of the multi-point communication service. Inanother concept of the third embodiment, in cases where no free spaceexists in the communication resource of the communication service unit2, the service receiving server 1 notifies the communication terminals3A to 3C sending the request of the multi-point communication servicethat no free space exists in the communication resource of thecommunication service unit 2, the service receiving server 1 issues aservice ID and a password to the communication terminals 3A to 3C, andthe service receiving server 1 notifies the communication terminals 3Ato 3C that either each of the service ID or the password is notcurrently available and is made available when a free space is obtainedin the communication resource of the communication service unit 2.

Thereafter, when a free space appropriate to contents of the multi-pointcommunication service relating to the request of waiting for areservation is obtained in the communication resource of thecommunication service unit 2, the service receiving server 1 issues aservice ID and a plurality of passwords to the communication terminals3A to 3C waiting for the multi-point communication service according tothe telephone numbers or the mail addresses of the communicationterminals 3A to 3C stored in advance and notifies the communicationterminals 3A to 3C that a free space exists in the communicationresource of the communication service unit 2. In another concept, theservice receiving server 1 notifies the communication terminals 3A to 3Cthat the service ID and the password previously issued are available.Also, the service receiving server 1 sends the service ID and the commonpassword (or the passwords) to the communication service unit 2 or sendsa notice indicating the availability of both the service ID and thecommon password (or the passwords), which are previously sent, to thecommunication service unit 2. Also, if necessary, an instructionindicating the permission of the provision of the multi-pointcommunication service is sent from the service receiving server 1 to thecommunication service unit 2.

Therefore, the notice of both the service ID and the password sent bythe service receiving server 1 is received in the communicationterminals 3A to 3C which send the request of the multi-pointcommunication service including a request of waiting for a reservation.

Thereafter, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, thecommunication terminals 3A to 3C perform a connection with thecommunication service unit 2, or a call is sent from the communicationservice unit 2 to the communication terminals 3A to 3C so as to connectthe communication service unit 2 and the communication terminals 3A to3C. Therefore, the communication terminals 3A to 3C can receive themulti-point communication service to perform the multi-pointcommunication among the communication terminals 3A to 3C of the grouprequesting the multi-point communication service.

As is described above, in the third embodiment, a request of themulti-point communication service including a request of waiting for areservation is sent from the communication terminals 3A to 3C to theservice receiving server 1. Therefore, even though the communicationterminals 3A to 3C cannot receive the multi-point communication servicedue to the shortage of the communication resource of the communicationservice unit 2, when a free space is obtained in the communicationresource of the communication service unit 2, the service receivingserver 1 can take the request of waiting for a reservation, and theresource of the communication service unit 2 can be efficiently used.

Also, each user is not required to confirm whether or not a free spaceexists in the communication resource of the communication service unit2. Therefore, the convenience of the multi-point communication servicefor the users can be heightened.

Embodiment 4

In the multi-point communication system of the third embodiment, incases where no free space exists in the communication resource of thecommunication service unit 2 when a group of users desire to reserve arequest of the multi-point communication service, a space of thecommunication resource is again assigned to the group of users when thespace of the communication resource is obtained in the communicationservice unit 2. Therefore, the communication resource is efficientlyused. Next, a multi-point communication system of a fourth embodimentwill be described. In this multi-point communication system, a notice ofa reservation time of the multi-point communication service is sent to agroup of users.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the configuration of a multi-pointcommunication system and a signal flow in the multi-point communicationsystem according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. InFIG. 4, 1 indicates a service receiving server (or a service receivingunit) for collecting and scheduling the reservation of a plurality ofrequests sent from a plurality of groups of communication terminalsincluding a group of communication terminals 3A to 3C, performing theresource management of a communication service unit 2 and thenotification to users of each group, and instructing the start of themulti-point communication service (a type of multi-point communicationservice or a plurality of types of multi-point communication services).2 indicates the communication service unit for providing a notice foreach of the communication terminals 3A to 3C of users and providing atype of multi-point communication service or a plurality of types ofmulti-point communication services for each of the groups ofcommunication terminals including the group of communication terminals3A to 3C. 3 indicates each of the communication terminals A to C of onegroup receiving a type of multi-point communication service or varioustypes of multi-point communication services.

Next, an operation will be described below.

In the same manner as the operation in the first embodiment, when theservice receiving server 1 receives a request of the multi-pointcommunication service from each of a plurality of groups ofcommunication terminals including the group of the communicationterminals 3A to 3C, the requests of the multi-point communicationservices are collected in the service receiving server 1, and acommunication reservation scheduling for the requests of the multi-pointcommunication services is performed in the service receiving server 1according to the collection result of the requests in consideration of acommunication resource state of the communication service unit 2.

Thereafter, in the service receiving server 1, a service ID and apassword are sent to each of the communication terminals 3A to 3C ofusers from which the request of the multi-point communication service issent to the service receiving server 1 or for which the multi-pointcommunication service is provided. In this case, the service ID and thepassword are specified in advance by each user who operates his or hercommunication terminal to specify the service ID and the password, orthe service ID and the password are specified in advance by the servicereceiving server 1. This operation is the same as that in the firstembodiment.

Thereafter, in the fourth embodiment, the service receiving server 1judges according to the communication reservation scheduling set by theservice receiving server 1 in consideration of the communicationresource state of the communication service unit 2 whether or not aspecific time just before a reservation time by a certain time periodcomes. The multi-point communication service is planned to be providedfor a certain group of communication terminals at the reservation time.When the specific time just before the reservation time of themulti-point communication service by the certain time period comes, theservice receiving server 1 or the communication service unit 2 againnotifies one group of the communication terminals 3A to 3C, from which arequest of the multi-point communication service is sent to the servicereceiving server 1 or for which the multi-point communication service isprovided according to a request of the multi-point communicationservice, of a start time of the multi-point communication service or theservice ID.

Therefore, when the reservation time comes, one group of thecommunication terminals 3A to 3C, from which a request of themulti-point communication service is sent to the service receivingserver 1 or for which the multi-point communication service is providedaccording to a request of-the multi-point communication service,performs a connection with the communication service unit 2, and thecommunication terminals 3A to 3C of one group can receive themulti-point communication service to communicate with each other.

As is described above, in the fourth embodiment, because the servicereceiving server 1 or the communication service unit 2 confirms theprovision of the multi-point communication service at the specific timejust before the reservation time of the multi-point communicationservice by the certain time period, a probability that the users of thegroup forget to receive the multi-point communication service can bereduced.

Also, even though a request of the multi-point communication service iserroneously sent from the group of the communication terminals 3A to 3Cto the service receiving server 1 so as to erroneously register therequest of the multi-point communication service in the servicereceiving server 1, because the service receiving server 1 or thecommunication service unit 2 notifies the group of the communicationterminals 3A to 3C of a start time of the multi-point communicationservice, the users of the group of the communication terminals 3A to 3Ccan be aware of the erroneous request according to contents of thenotice. Accordingly, the users can revise or cancel the reservation ofthe multi-point communication service erroneously registered, and theusers can prevent a charge for the multi-point communication servicefrom being generated in vain.

Also, in cases where the users cancel or revise the reservation of themulti-point communication service registered in the service receivingserver 1, the users can know a change of the resource before the startof the multi-point communication service. Accordingly, the resource ofthe communication service unit 2 can be efficiently used.

Embodiment 5

In the multi-point communication system of the fourth embodiment, thenotice of a reservation time of the provision of the multi-pointcommunication service reserved by a group of users is sent to the groupof users. Next, a multi-point communication system of a fifth embodimentwill be described. In this multi-point communication system, anauthorized limit of rights of the multi-point communication serviceprovided for each user differs from that provided for another user.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the configuration of a multi-pointcommunication system and a signal flow in the multi-point communicationsystem according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. InFIG. 5, 1 indicates a service receiving server (or a service receivingunit) for collecting and scheduling the reservation of a plurality ofrequests sent from a plurality of groups of communication terminalsincluding a group of communication terminals 3A to 3C, performing theresource management of a communication service unit 2, theacknowledgment of a service ID and a plurality of passwords differentfrom each other, and instructing the start of the multi-pointcommunication service (a type of multi-point communication service or aplurality of types of multi-point communication services). 2 indicatesthe communication service unit for providing a notice for each of thecommunication terminals 3A to 3C of users and providing a type ofmulti-point communication service or a plurality of types of multi-pointcommunication services for each of the groups of communication terminalsincluding the group of communication terminals 3A to 3C. 3 indicateseach of the communication terminals A to C of one group receiving a typeof multi-point communication service or various types of multi-pointcommunication services.

Next, an operation will be described below.

In the same manner as the operation in the first embodiment, when theservice receiving server 1 receives a request of the multi-pointcommunication service from each of a plurality of groups ofcommunication terminals including the group of the communicationterminals 3A to 3C, the requests of the multi-point communicationservices are collected in the service receiving server 1, and acommunication reservation scheduling for the requests of the multi-pointcommunication services is performed in the service receiving server 1according to the collection result of the requests in consideration of acommunication resource state of the communication service unit 2.Thereafter, in the service receiving server 1, both a service ID and apassword are sent to each of the communication terminals 3A to 3C ofusers from which the request-of the multi-point communication service issent to the service receiving server 1 or for which the multi-pointcommunication service is provided. In this case, the service ID and thepassword are specified in advance by each user, or the service ID andthe password are specified in advance by the service receiving server 1.This operation is the same as that in the first embodiment.

In detail, in the service receiving server 1 of the fifth embodiment, aplurality of passwords different from each other are respectively issuedto the communication terminals 3A to 3C of the users which send aplurality of requests of the multi-point communication service to theservice receiving server 1 and receive the same type of multi-pointcommunication service. In this case, each password of the communicationterminal is determined according to both a communication channelcapacity of the communication terminal set by the corresponding user andan authorized limit of rights of the multi-point communication serviceprovided for the user. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, thecommunication terminals 3A to 3C of one group receive the same type ofmulti-point communication service, the service receiving server 1 issuesa password “A*B*C” to the communication terminal 3A, the servicereceiving server 1 issues a password “B” to the communication terminal3B, and the service receiving server 1 issues a password “C” to thecommunication terminal 3C.

Thereafter, the service receiving server 1 sends information of theservice ID and the passwords issued to the group of the communicationterminals 3A to 3C to the communication service unit 2 to permit theprovision of the multi-point communication service for the group.

Thereafter, the communication service unit 2 authenticates the serviceID and the password sent from each of the communication terminals 3A to3C according to the service ID and the passwords sent from the servicereceiving server 1. In cases where it is possible to provide themulti-point communication service for the group of the communicationterminals 3A to 3C, the communication service unit 2 performs aconnection with the group of the communication terminals 3A to 3Creceiving the multi-point communication service, and the communicationservice unit 2 provides each communication terminal a type ofmulti-point communication service corresponding to both thecommunication channel capacity of the communication terminal and theauthorized limit of rights possessed by the user of the communicationterminal. Here, because each the communication terminal receives thetype of multi-point communication service corresponding to both thecommunication channel capacity of the communication terminal and theauthorized limit of rights possessed by the user of the communicationterminal, even though the multi-point communication service is providedfor the group of the communication terminals 3A to 3C, the right ofspeaking (or the right of data transmission), the upper limit of thenumber of speaking actions (or the upper limit of the number of datatransmission actions) and a degree of priority in the right of speaking(or a degree of priority in the right of data transmission) are, forexample, determined for each communication terminal.

As is described above, in the fifth embodiment, because the password isdetermined according to both the communication channel capacity and theauthorized limit of rights for each communication terminal, in themulti-point communication service performed among the communicationterminals of one group, the authorized limit of rights can be easilydetermined for each user, and the multi-point communication service canbe provided for each communication terminal according to thecommunication channel capacity of the communication terminal.

Embodiment 6

In the multi-point communication system of the fifth embodiment, theauthorized limit of rights in the multi-point communication service isdetermined for each user. Next, a multi-point communication systemaccording to a sixth embodiment will be described. In this multi-pointcommunication system, an input operation of a telephone number of eachcommunication terminal is simplified, and each communication terminal isautomatically connected with the communication service unit 2.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing the configuration of a multi-pointcommunication system and a signal flow in the multi-point communicationsystem according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. InFIG. 6, 1 indicates a service receiving server (or a service receivingunit) for collecting and scheduling the reservation of a plurality ofrequests sent from a plurality of groups of communication terminalsincluding a group of communication terminals 3A to 3C, performing theresource management of a communication service unit 2 and instructingthe start of the multi-point communication service (a type ofmulti-point communication service or a plurality of types of multi-pointcommunication services). 2 indicates the communication service unit forproviding a notice for each of the communication terminals 3A to 3C ofusers and providing a type of multi-point communication service or aplurality of types of multi-point communication services for each of thegroups of communication terminals including the group of communicationterminals 3A to 3C. 3 indicates each of the communication terminals A toC of one group receiving a type of multi-point communication service orvarious types of multi-point communication services.

Next, an operation will be described below.

In the same manner as the operation in the first embodiment, when theservice receiving server 1 receives a request of the multi-pointcommunication service from each of a plurality of groups ofcommunication terminals including the group of the communicationterminals 3A to 3C, the requests of the multi-point communicationservices are collected in the service receiving server 1, and acommunication reservation scheduling for the requests of the multi-pointcommunication services is performed in the service receiving server 1according to the collection result of the requests in consideration of acommunication resource state of the communication service unit 2.Thereafter, in the service receiving server 1, both a service ID and apassword are sent to each of the communication terminals 3A to 3C ofusers from which the request of the multi-point communication service issent to the service receiving server 1. In this case, the service ID andthe password are specified in advance by each user, or the service IDand the password are specified in advance by the service receivingserver 1. This operation is the same as that in the first embodiment.

In this case, in the sixth embodiment, the service receiving server 1assigns a call-in address to the communication service unit 2 for eachservice ID (that is, for each type of multi-point communicationservice), and the service receiving server 1 issues a text producedaccording to a hypertext markup language (HTML), a password and aservice ID written in a conference holding notice according to thefunction of CGI or JAVA as an example to each of the communicationterminals 3A to 3C from which a request of the multi-point communicationservice is sent to the service receiving server 1 or for which themulti-point communication service is provided. Therefore, the service IDis displayed on a screen of a displaying means (not shown) disposed ineach of the communication terminals 3A to 3C. When a user of each of thecommunication terminals 3A to 3C selects either an area of the screen,on which the service ID is displayed, or an area of the screencorresponding to the service ID, the call-in address assigned to thecommunication service unit 2 is automatically used in each of thecommunication terminals 3A to 3C so as to connect each of thecommunication terminals 3A to 3C with the communication service unit 2.

Therefore, each of the communication terminals 3A to 3C receives thepassword and the service ID written in the conference holding notice,and the user of each communication terminal selects either an area ofthe screen, on which the service ID is displayed, or an area of thescreen corresponding to the service ID. In this case, each communicationterminal is automatically connected with the communication service unit2 according to a call sent to the call-in address of the communicationservice unit 2, and the password is sent from each communicationterminal to the communication service unit 2.

Thereafter, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, thecommunication service unit 2 collates the password sent from each of thecommunication terminals 3A to 3C with the password sent from the servicereceiving server 1, the communication service unit 2 authenticates eachof the communication terminals 3A to 3C, and the communication serviceunit 2 provides the multi-point communication service for each of thecommunication terminals 3A to 3C.

As is described above, in the sixth embodiment, the service receivingserver 1 assigns the call-in address to the communication service unit 2and issues the password and the service ID written in the conferenceholding notice or the like to each of the communication terminals 3A to3C, each of the communication terminals 3A to 3C receives the passwordand the service ID written in the conference holding notice, each of thecommunication terminals 3A to 3C selects an area of the conferenceholding notice displayed on the screen, each of the communicationterminals 3A to 3C automatically sends a call to the assigned call-inaddress of the communication service unit 2, and each of thecommunication terminals 3A to 3C is connected with the communicationservice unit 2. Therefore, each user is not troublesome to perform theinput operation to a connection address of the communication serviceunit 2, and the convenience of the multi-point communication service foreach user can be heightened.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As is described above, a multi-point communication system and amulti-point communication method according to the present invention areappropriate to system and method in which the multi-point communicationservice is provided for a group of communication terminals, theoperation of each communication terminal of the group is simplified, andthe convenience of the multi-point communication service for each useris heightened.

1. A multi-point communication system, comprising a communicationservice unit for providing a type of multi-point communication serviceor a plurality of types of multi-point communication services for asingle communication terminal or a plurality of communication terminals,characterized in that the multi-point communication system furthercomprises a service receiving unit for receiving a request of one typeof multi-point communication service from the single communicationterminal or the communication terminals, issuing both a serviceidentifier corresponding to the type of multi-point communicationservice and a password corresponding to a communication terminal groupreceiving the type of multi-point communication service to the singlecommunication terminal or each of the communication terminals requestingthe type of multi-point communication service, and outputting theservice identifier and the password or the passwords to thecommunication service unit, wherein the service receiving unit receivesa request of a type of multi-point communication service from anarbitrary communication terminal denoting the single communicationterminal or selected from among the communication terminals, thecommunication service unit receives the service identifier indicatingthe type of multi-point communication service and the password of thearbitrary communication terminal from the arbitrary communicationterminal, the communication service unit confirms whether or not thepassword received from the arbitrary communication terminal agrees withthe password of the arbitrary communication terminal output from theservice receiving unit, and the communication service unit provides thetype of multi-point communication service indicated by the serviceidentifier for the arbitrary communication in a case where the passwordreceived from the arbitrary communication terminal agrees with thepassword output from the service receiving unit.
 2. A multi-pointcommunication system according to claim 1, wherein the service receivingunit is connected with the communication service unit through a network.3. A multi-point communication system according to claim 1, wherein therequest of the type of multi-point communication service received in theservice receiving unit includes a name of a group of communicationterminals performing a multi-point communication according to the typeof multi-point communication service.
 4. A multi-point communicationsystem according to claim 1, wherein the service identifier or thepassword sent from the arbitrary communication terminal to thecommunication service unit is arbitrarily selected by a user of thearbitrary communication terminal.
 5. A multi-point communication systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the service receiving unit outputs aninstruction indicating the start of the type of multi-pointcommunication service to the communication service unit after theservice receiving unit confirms that a user of the arbitrarycommunication terminal receiving the multi-point communication servicepays a charge for the multi-point communication service, and the servicereceiving unit permits the communication service unit to provide thetype of multi-point communication service for the user of the arbitrarycommunication terminal.
 6. A multi-point communication system accordingto claim 1, wherein the service receiving unit outputs an instruction,which indicates that the password of the arbitrary communicationterminal receiving the type of multi-point communication service isavailable, to the communication service unit after the service receivingunit confirms that a user of the arbitrary communication terminalreceiving the type of multi-point communication service pays a chargefor the type of multi-point communication service, and the servicereceiving unit permits the communication service unit to provide thetype of multi-point communication service for the user of the arbitrarycommunication terminal.
 7. A multi-point communication system accordingto claim 1, wherein a resource of the communication service unit isshort when the service receiving unit receives the request of the typeof multi-point communication service from the arbitrary communicationterminal, the provision of the type of multi-point communication servicebecomes possible at a specific time because a free space is obtained inthe resource of the communication service unit, and the servicereceiving unit notifies the arbitrary communication terminal requestingthe type of multi-point communication service at the specific time thatthe provision of the type of multi-point communication service ispossible.
 8. A multi-point communication system according to claim 1,wherein a resource of the communication service unit is short when theservice receiving unit receives the request of the type of multi-pointcommunication service from the arbitrary communication terminal, theprovision of the type of multi-point communication service becomespossible at a specific time because a free space is obtained in theresource of the communication service unit, and the service receivingunit sends an instruction to the communication service unit at thespecific time to make the arbitrary communication terminal requestingthe type of multi-point communication service connect with thecommunication service unit.
 9. A multi-point communication systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the service receiving unit isautomatically connected with the arbitrary communication terminal, forwhich the type of multi-point communication service is provided, beforea service providing time when the service providing time is coming, andthe service receiving unit sends a notice of the provision of the typeof multi-point communication service to the arbitrary communicationterminal.
 10. A multi-point communication system according to claim 1,wherein the service receiving unit issues a password conformable to acommunication capacity of one communication terminal or an authorizedlimit of rights given to one communication terminal to the communicationterminal for each communication terminal, and the communication serviceunit provides a type of multi-point communication service or a pluralityof types of multi-point communication services conformable to thecommunication capacity of each communication terminal or the authorizedlimit of rights given to each communication terminal according to thepassword of the communication terminal.
 11. A multi-point communicationsystem according to claim 1, wherein the service receiving unitspecifies a call-in address of the communication service unit for eachservice identifier and notifies the arbitrary communication terminal ofthe call-in addresses, the arbitrary communication terminal selects oneservice identifier notified by the service receiving unit toautomatically send a call to the corresponding call-in address of thecommunication service unit and to be connected with the communicationservice unit, and the service receiving unit notifies the communicationservice unit of the password sent to the arbitrary communicationterminal.
 12. A multi-point communication method, comprising the step ofproviding a type of multi-point communication service or a plurality oftypes of multi-point communication services for a single communicationterminal or a plurality of communication terminals, characterized inthat the multi-point communication method further comprises the stepsof; receiving a request of a type of multi-point communication servicefrom the single communication terminal or the communication terminals;issuing a password or a service identifier corresponding to acommunication terminal group receiving the type of multi-pointcommunication service to the single communication terminal or each ofthe communication terminals requesting the type of multi-pointcommunication service; and providing the type of multi-pointcommunication service for an arbitrary communication terminal denotingthe single communication terminal or selected from among thecommunication terminals according to the password or the serviceidentifier sent from the arbitrary communication terminal in a casewhere the service identifier indicating a request of the type ofmulti-point communication service and the password are received from thearbitrary communication terminal.